My Chimera

[TheOak]

[QUOTE=Gambit;42444]
“Baby, I don’t want you to look like that.” My girlfriend said, looking at my poster of Wrath in my room.



hahaha, i've heard that one many times.

[Toni69]

you know what's really funny? My husband says that to me! LOL

[Gambit]

Can I just say that I love this lifestyle? Everything about it. Period. Let me give you a little recap of the last couple weeks in my life.

My first college spring break just ended. I’m back to school and back in the grind. But while I was home, catching up with some high school friends, it was evident to them that I wasn’t giving up on bodybuilding. Everyone thought I was just in it to get a nice looking body then give up, ESPECIALLY when I hit college…let alone the Fraternity I decided to join. Everyone at home expected me to gain a bunch of weight, and I didn’t disappoint them…except for the fact that it isn’t a beer gut. When I went to visit one of my old lifting buddies, we pulled our shirts off (I love the old gyms) while we banged out chest, and he almost fell over. He was so surprised that I stuck with it and definitely put on some size. He congratulated me and I just smiled, saying I still have a long way to go.

That same day, I bought Arnold’s Encyclopedia of a Modern Bodybuilder and it was the best investment (besides the Pak) that I’ve ever spent money on. My girlfriend’s starting calling it my own personal bible and I just laugh and her, reach in my desk, pull out my Animal Owner’s Manual and say that THERE’S my bible.

Getting to go back to my old gym (fitness spa, actually) was pretty nice, too. Who’s ever heard of a gym with a no-tank top policy? Well, that’s my college weight room. But whatever, I deal. Pulling my hoodie off at my old gym back home I got looks from every direction. I was one of the only people in there with a physique, but that was not the biggest deal. Some punks, weighing maybe 140 with their shirts wet, come up to me being cocky and ask me what I’m on. This is not a rare occurrence, but it was in the middle of my set. That just pissed me off. After I racked my weight, I look at them with fire in my eyes and I just say “Consistency and Dedication. That’s what’s running through my veins.” That wasn’t the answer they wanted and they scurried off.

But now I’m back at school. No tank-tops in the weight room. But that’s okay, just wait until I take my hoodie off next time.

[Gambit]

Faith. A belief in something in something that is rooted deep in the heart, not the mind; the mind oftentimes tries to justify and criticize faith, however, the heart will not let go of it.

“What do you have faith in,” someone recently questioned. My answer should not come as a shock. I’m not going to give you the bullshit, cookie-cutter answer that you want to hear and then forget in thirty seconds. This answer is going to be difficult to comprehend and I like that.

“I have faith in one thing and that is me. Many times, I have sat under a heavy weight, capable of crushing me at any moment, and I have tested my mettle. I’ve let the weight push me down and I’ve pushed right back.”

I have clinched my teeth, yelled, and pushed until the weight was gone. But then there was always another weight on my back…the world. There are 6.5 billion people in the world and there are only 6,000 of us Animals. Brothers, that is a heavy burden.

So many people are satisfied with the status quo that it makes me sick to my stomach; so many people just going through the motion that is “life.” People buying things they don’t need and letting their possessions control them. Fancy sports car? Got to have it. Big house with too many rooms? A must have in this “life.” Fuck that. You know what I want?

I want progressively heavier weights. I want shirt sizes to keep increasing. I want to see the scale going upwards. I want the looks that people give us everywhere we go. I want the early nights and morning cardio sessions. I want the drawer full of Universal supplements. I want six meals a day. I want to live like an Animal. This is my “life.”

And brothers, who will provide this? The giver of faith. Myself. That is faith.

[Gambit]

4/12/07

“Off day.” Is that what today is supposed to be? No, today’s a “rest day.” No, I still don’t like that. I’m hardly resting and I’m nowhere near “off.” These are the days I dread. There’s no pre-workout routine, no PWO shake (and I love the new Torrent.) There’s no iron and no pump. I’m just stuck here with my thoughts, when doubt seeps in. Shit, I hate these days. That’s why I consider my days away from the iron necessary, and nothing else.

Where would I be without bodybuilding? Well, if I continued down the same path I was headed before I heard the iron’s call, I would probably have already flunked out of college, be depressed and neck deep in a bottle, and weigh about 130 pounds. I’d still play a guitar and sing in a mediocre band that was never good enough to get out of my hometown. Eventually, my luck would run out and something bad would happen to me.

Bodybuilding saved my life. I know it’s a bold statement, but it’s true. I finish what I start. I know how to set long term goals, but also break them down into monthly, weekly, and daily goals. I take pride in my accomplishments, but I never brag. I know what I’m about and what I’ve been through.

But why is it that society puts a size limit on what people consider bodybuilders? I personally don’t use the word, but my girl does. She’ll talk to somebody about me and they’ll immediately question her use of the word. “Society” doesn’t understand that it’s the lifestyle and not the size of the person that deems them a true Animal. I know I’m not the size of Ronnie Coleman or Wrath, but I like to think I have the same drive as they did in their hearts when they first started into this game. The size takes time to build. The dedication is a lifelong task. But, it all starts with a simple question…

Are you man enough?

[Preston]

That is the point in which some people go mad. Keep your head high Gambit, and tredge on mother fucker! You got this shit, we do this day in day out, giving nothing but 100% and sacrificing every little piece you have in that fucking body of yours, just to get so little back. Patience brother, it'll come.

-Preston[ANIMAL] a.k.a "LoneWolf"

[Preston]

4/12/07

“Off day.” Is that what today is supposed to be? No, today’s a “rest day.” No, I still don’t like that. I’m hardly resting and I’m nowhere near “off.” These are the days I dread. There’s no pre-workout routine, no PWO shake (and I love the new Torrent.) There’s no iron and no pump. I’m just stuck here with my thoughts, when doubt seeps in. Shit, I hate these days. That’s why I consider my days away from the iron necessary, and nothing else.

Where would I be without bodybuilding? Well, if I continued down the same path I was headed before I heard the iron’s call, I would probably have already flunked out of college, be depressed and neck deep in a bottle, and weigh about 130 pounds. I’d still play a guitar and sing in a mediocre band that was never good enough to get out of my hometown. Eventually, my luck would run out and something bad would happen to me.

Bodybuilding saved my life. I know it’s a bold statement, but it’s true. I finish what I start. I know how to set long term goals, but also break them down into monthly, weekly, and daily goals. I take pride in my accomplishments, but I never brag. I know what I’m about and what I’ve been through.

But why is it that society puts a size limit on what people consider bodybuilders? I personally don’t use the word, but my girl does. She’ll talk to somebody about me and they’ll immediately question her use of the word. “Society” doesn’t understand that it’s the lifestyle and not the size of the person that deems them a true Animal. I know I’m not the size of Ronnie Coleman or Wrath, but I like to think I have the same drive as they did in their hearts when they first started into this game. The size takes time to build. The dedication is a lifelong task. But, it all starts with a simple question…

Are you man enough?

This gives me goosebumps.

Seriously.

[Preston]

Faith. A belief in something in something that is rooted deep in the heart, not the mind; the mind oftentimes tries to justify and criticize faith, however, the heart will not let go of it.

“What do you have faith in,” someone recently questioned. My answer should not come as a shock. I’m not going to give you the bullshit, cookie-cutter answer that you want to hear and then forget in thirty seconds. This answer is going to be difficult to comprehend and I like that.

“I have faith in one thing and that is me. Many times, I have sat under a heavy weight, capable of crushing me at any moment, and I have tested my mettle. I’ve let the weight push me down and I’ve pushed right back.”

I have clinched my teeth, yelled, and pushed until the weight was gone. But then there was always another weight on my back…the world. There are 6.5 billion people in the world and there are only 6,000 of us Animals. Brothers, that is a heavy burden.

So many people are satisfied with the status quo that it makes me sick to my stomach; so many people just going through the motion that is “life.” People buying things they don’t need and letting their possessions control them. Fancy sports car? Got to have it. Big house with too many rooms? A must have in this “life.” Fuck that. You know what I want?

I want progressively heavier weights. I want shirt sizes to keep increasing. I want to see the scale going upwards. I want the looks that people give us everywhere we go. I want the early nights and morning cardio sessions. I want the drawer full of Universal supplements. I want six meals a day. I want to live like an Animal. This is my “life.”

And brothers, who will provide this? The giver of faith. Myself. That is faith.

You seem like you'd maybe like this book. It's called "Wild at Heart," and I think you might dig it. Check it out sometime? ( Yes it's by a Christian author )

-Preston[ANIMAL] a.k.a "LoneWolf"

[Grim Tavis]

"Wild at Heart" is a great book.

Highly recommended read for all.

[Gambit]

5/19/2007

After enough nagging to drive me insane, my girl finally convinced me to come visit her before I go to work for the summer. She knows me well enough to know that I wouldn’t take a vacation if I had started walking, so she convinced me to come out first thing after school ended. She lives in New Jersey and I live in northwest Ohio, so I loaded up my car for the nine hour drive, charged my ipod and hit the road at 9am last Monday.

I get there and I crash. Not my car, thankfully, just my body. I’m not ready to lift Monday, so I get ready for an assault on Tuesday. So I load up my car with my gear, down my Pump on the way to the gym, and it turns out it’s a new-school fitness center, complete with internet on the bikes and tv’s on the treadmills. I figured I was gonna get kicked out as I assault my chest, because I was probably being “too intense.” I looked at my car on the ride back to her house and said flatly, I’m not going back there.

So she tells me there’s this little hole in the wall gym around the corner, so I know I’ve got to check it out. I walk in and the guy behind the counter stands up and introduces himself and shakes my hand. He shows me around and I could swear I’ve seen this gym in my dreams before. It’s a no-nonsense, go balls-to-the-wall gym that most of us only can dream of. He hands me his card for Manzo’s Gym after I buy a “guest pass” for the next three days and shakes my hand again.

The next morning, when I walk in, the owner walks right up to me, knows my name!, and shakes my hand introducing himself. I’m psyched for this experience. I go in and pound my delts into a pulp and can hardly raise my shoulders by the time I’m done.

It’s not the environment, it’s the person. I’ve heard it time and time before, but when I was in that gym, thinking about the people that’ve come and sweated and bled there, I could only think about proving them proud. I couldn’t let them down, and in turn it made myself prouder. I can walk tall. But I still must continue to prove my own rigor to myself, everyday for the rest of my life.

[Liftbig21]

5/19/2007

After enough nagging to drive me insane, my girl finally convinced me to come visit her before I go to work for the summer. She knows me well enough to know that I wouldn’t take a vacation if I had started walking, so she convinced me to come out first thing after school ended. She lives in New Jersey and I live in northwest Ohio, so I loaded up my car for the nine hour drive, charged my ipod and hit the road at 9am last Monday.

I get there and I crash. Not my car, thankfully, just my body. I’m not ready to lift Monday, so I get ready for an assault on Tuesday. So I load up my car with my gear, down my Pump on the way to the gym, and it turns out it’s a new-school fitness center, complete with internet on the bikes and tv’s on the treadmills. I figured I was gonna get kicked out as I assault my chest, because I was probably being “too intense.” I looked at my car on the ride back to her house and said flatly, I’m not going back there.

So she tells me there’s this little hole in the wall gym around the corner, so I know I’ve got to check it out. I walk in and the guy behind the counter stands up and introduces himself and shakes my hand. He shows me around and I could swear I’ve seen this gym in my dreams before. It’s a no-nonsense, go balls-to-the-wall gym that most of us only can dream of. He hands me his card for Manzo’s Gym after I buy a “guest pass” for the next three days and shakes my hand again.

The next morning, when I walk in, the owner walks right up to me, knows my name!, and shakes my hand introducing himself. I’m psyched for this experience. I go in and pound my delts into a pulp and can hardly raise my shoulders by the time I’m done.

It’s not the environment, it’s the person. I’ve heard it time and time before, but when I was in that gym, thinking about the people that’ve come and sweated and bled there, I could only think about proving them proud. I couldn’t let them down, and in turn it made myself prouder. I can walk tall. But I still must continue to prove my own rigor to myself, everyday for the rest of my life.

COngrats on finding that special place bro...keep gettin after it im happy for you.

[Gambit]

Fuck cutting down for summer; I'm gonna become the biggest sonofabitch I can in these 12 weeks I have. Strength is what I'm emphasizing this summer, and I've come up with a tentative 5-day split: 3 days on (delts/back/chest) 1 day off, 2 days on (wheels/arms), 1 day off. I've got to have a bit of leeway in my schedule because of some work-related issues. Three jobs will wear anybody down in a hurry. But I will stay committed, and true to each and all of you.

I started today. Began my cycle of the new MStak (first one since I alpha-tested), and got a few new things from Universal. I made BigAnt's secret workout drink for today's workout, and I decided to throw in some GH Stack and EAAs as well as just his BCAAs. Throw Torrent into the mix, a Real Gains shake just after work at the power plant, the Pak everyday, Nitro on the ride back from the gym, and as man liver tabs as I can stand. I know it's a lot of supplements, but I'm eating a full 6 meals everyday, banging out about 300g/protein, 500g/carbs, and a great big helping of fats (haven't figured that out yet.)

Today was only the beginning to my new Journey. Look for it here soon. I'll be keeping a daily log as well as my thoughts on life, similar to the above entries.

This is our time. Join me, brothers, I will not disappoint.

[Gambit]

"Fuck you. You're nothing compared to me."

I wrote this on my bedroom mirror and it's the first thing I see every morning besides those blurry numbers flashing 4:00am. Everyday it lights my ass on fire and I stare down that man in the mirror. What makes him any better than me? And how long before I'm staring down that man in the mirror and I'm proud of what I see? I don't know, brothers, and I hope I'm never satisfied.

So, Animals, do me one thing in this life, and I promise you that you'll be proud:


Fight.

[Gambit]

"If you're up against a bruiser and you're getting knocked about --
Grin.

If you're feeling pretty groggy, and you're licked beyond a doubt --
Grin.

Don't let him see you're funking, let him know with every clout,
Though your face is battered to a pulp, your blooming heart is stout;
Just stand upon your pins until the beggar knocks you out --
And grin.

This life's a bally battle, and the same advice holds true
Of grin.

If you're up against it badly, then it's only one on you,
So grin.

If the future's black as thunder, don't let people see you're blue;
Just cultivate a cast-iron smile of joy the whole day through;
If they call you "Little Sunshine," wish that they'd no troubles too --
You may -- grin.

Rise up in the morning with the will that, smooth or rough,
You'll grin.

Sink to sleep at midnight, and although you're feeling tough,
Yet grin.

There's nothing gained by whining, and you're not that kind of stuff;
You're a fighter from way back, and you won't take a rebuff;
Your trouble is that you don't know when you have had enough --
Don't give in.

If Fate should down you, just get and take another cuff;
You bank on it that there is no philosophy like bluff,
And grin."

-Robert Service

My great-grandpa used to read this to my old man when he was a pup and I remember hearing my dad read this to me when I was growing up. It never really sank in until I started taking this game seriously. This is my philosophy on life. What about yours?

I prefer to grin.

[Gambit]

I am a fucking bum. I lived on the other side of the mediocrity line for the last 5 weeks or so...and I fucking hate it, brothers. So I'm declaring to each and every one of you

I'm back.

[ncsu06]

it is always good to see a brother get back on his feet...life on the mediocre side always re-kindles the fire...good luck on your future endeavors...stay strong...good luck brother

[Vaze_06]

why can people really accept gurls doing and love weight training?! i mean i'm 17... been working for 4 years.. only 2 that i have been doing it hardcore....
my parents say that a girl shouldn't have large shoulder, big muscles, train with heavy weights, it's not pretty... every time i go ask my big brother (bodybuilder) for advice, best way to train... he says that girl shouldn't train like guys, that we can't push as hard as guys ( e.i. never able to work w/ 35 kilo dumbells curl biceps... but guess what big bro... it's with what i'm working right now! and gonna work to get the 50 kilo in... (wish me good luck:P) which got him pretty pissed off and made my day!)... my ex even wanted me to go less hard on the arm, shoulder cauz it was getting hard, big...
even guys of my college think i'm crazy of going to the gym at least 4 time per week ... but they are pussys soo don,t really blame them! lol

i don't mean to disrespect anyone but i mean if bodybuilding is what makes me want to get up in the morning, knowing that i'll be pushing harder myself. can't they simply accept it and not try to stop me .... anyways i have the iron deeply in my blood so more they try to put limits and more i'll go further
am i a little to yourg from hardcore gym?? (doesn,t mean i less work, but should i wait to get older or i don't know... feel strange to be with few gurl really doing weight trainning... but notice few person know what's the real feeling of working out

[widdlewade44]

why can people really accept gurls doing and love weight training?! i mean i'm 17... been working for 4 years.. only 2 that i have been doing it hardcore....
my parents say that a girl shouldn't have large shoulder, big muscles, train with heavy weights, it's not pretty... every time i go ask my big brother (bodybuilder) for advice, best way to train... he says that girl shouldn't train like guys, that we can't push as hard as guys ( e.i. never able to work w/ 35 kilo dumbells curl biceps... but guess what big bro... it's with what i'm working right now! and gonna work to get the 50 kilo in... (wish me good luck:P) which got him pretty pissed off and made my day!)... my ex even wanted me to go less hard on the arm, shoulder cauz it was getting hard, big...
even guys of my college think i'm crazy of going to the gym at least 4 time per week ... but they are pussys soo don,t really blame them! lol

i don't mean to disrespect anyone but i mean if bodybuilding is what makes me want to get up in the morning, knowing that i'll be pushing harder myself. can't they simply accept it and not try to stop me .... anyways i have the iron deeply in my blood so more they try to put limits and more i'll go further
am i a little to yourg from hardcore gym?? (doesn,t mean i less work, but should i wait to get older or i don't know... feel strange to be with few gurl really doing weight trainning... but notice few person know what's the real feeling of working out

There are plenty of us out here to lend support. Good luck on your Journey to that 50 kilo!

Kevin
widdlewade44

[eblnyc]

why can people really accept gurls doing and love weight training?! i mean i'm 17... been working for 4 years.. only 2 that i have been doing it hardcore....
my parents say that a girl shouldn't have large shoulder, big muscles, train with heavy weights, it's not pretty... every time i go ask my big brother (bodybuilder) for advice, best way to train... he says that girl shouldn't train like guys, that we can't push as hard as guys ( e.i. never able to work w/ 35 kilo dumbells curl biceps... but guess what big bro... it's with what i'm working right now! and gonna work to get the 50 kilo in... (wish me good luck:P) which got him pretty pissed off and made my day!)... my ex even wanted me to go less hard on the arm, shoulder cauz it was getting hard, big...
even guys of my college think i'm crazy of going to the gym at least 4 time per week ... but they are pussys soo don,t really blame them! lol

i don't mean to disrespect anyone but i mean if bodybuilding is what makes me want to get up in the morning, knowing that i'll be pushing harder myself. can't they simply accept it and not try to stop me .... anyways i have the iron deeply in my blood so more they try to put limits and more i'll go further
am i a little to yourg from hardcore gym?? (doesn,t mean i less work, but should i wait to get older or i don't know... feel strange to be with few gurl really doing weight trainning... but notice few person know what's the real feeling of working out

do what you want not what others want you to do..you want to lift heavy do it..fuck them..

[Vaze_06]

There are plenty of us out here to lend support. Good luck on your Journey to that 50 kilo!

Kevin
widdlewade44

thanks!, I'll need more luck into squats with 200lb, but had problems w/ my left knee... which really sucks.... but got to suck it up